loolalooh
Well-Known Member
I had to revamp the OP because the original was probably a bit overwhelming to others. I'm going to break it up into two separate threads. This is the first one:
After talking with my sister (who is also a Christian), I think I have better clarity in what I am asking. Here we go:
These Scriptures come to my mind when it comes to avoiding/battling temptation:
My question is, how do you balance between "guarding your heart" and going into complete isolation? What if your only "way out of temptation" is separation from the world and thus isolation? How do you stay "in" the world (not "of" the world, but "in" the world) but also "resist the devil so that he can flee"? My sister gave an interesting one-word answer, but I want to hear what others have to say.
Additionally, what do you say to someone who continues to succumb to temptation (to a particular habitual sin) when he/she goes into the world? This someone now feels that the only way to prevent falling is to remain in isolation. Thus, this person encounters a state of loneliness, which in itself isn't good either.
The best example I can imagine up is someone who is a recovering alcoholic, but has to avoid: clubs, lounges, bars, stores with liquor aisles, his church home during Communion because they serve real wine, all his friends because they drink socially every time they get together, television because he doesn't know when liquor ads will pop up, etc. Thus he finds himself in a lonely, isolated place. (This may or may not be a realistic example, but it is similar to the actual scenario.)
After talking with my sister (who is also a Christian), I think I have better clarity in what I am asking. Here we go:
These Scriptures come to my mind when it comes to avoiding/battling temptation:
My question is, how do you balance between "guarding your heart" and going into complete isolation? What if your only "way out of temptation" is separation from the world and thus isolation? How do you stay "in" the world (not "of" the world, but "in" the world) but also "resist the devil so that he can flee"? My sister gave an interesting one-word answer, but I want to hear what others have to say.
Additionally, what do you say to someone who continues to succumb to temptation (to a particular habitual sin) when he/she goes into the world? This someone now feels that the only way to prevent falling is to remain in isolation. Thus, this person encounters a state of loneliness, which in itself isn't good either.
The best example I can imagine up is someone who is a recovering alcoholic, but has to avoid: clubs, lounges, bars, stores with liquor aisles, his church home during Communion because they serve real wine, all his friends because they drink socially every time they get together, television because he doesn't know when liquor ads will pop up, etc. Thus he finds himself in a lonely, isolated place. (This may or may not be a realistic example, but it is similar to the actual scenario.)
Last edited:
